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5 new artists you should listen to after SXSW 2014

By Matt Miller, The Denver Post

Posted:
03/19/2014 04:23:06 PM EDT

Angel Olsen. (Zia Anger/The Denver Post)

If you go to South By Southwest Music Festival hoping to catch an A-list artist like Kanye or Gaga, you're doing it wrong. SXSW, the biggest music and industry festival in the country, is about discovery. It's for upcoming bands to be noticed by fans, record labels and the media and for festivalgoers to find a new great act they've never heard of. After a week at SXSW from March 11-16, we did that discovery for you and put together a list of five standout artists to watch this year. Listen to all of these artists, read reviews and see hundreds of photos from SXSW on heyreverb.com.

Future Islands

Want to see a guy try to swallow his own fist on stage and beat his chest? Want to see him hip thrust all maybe-200 pounds of himself, or watch him sweat profusely as he dives into the crowd while singing like Dracula after a week at theater camp? Then check out synth-pop group Future Islands — it's really not as weird as you might think. Frontman/vocalist Sam Herring is a fascinating performer as he delivers a baritone that transforms into a sinister growl. And he tirelessly did so through the band's seven sets last week at its first appearance at SXSW. The band releases its fourth album, “Singles,” on March 25.

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Kishi Bashi

Though he dresses dapper and is a violin virtuoso, Kishi Bashi is an indie-rocker at heart, which is clear through his bouncing and playful music. Mixing electronics, banjo, drums and, of course, his own violin, Kishi Bashi is reserved for a bright summer morning, his bubbly vocals are a pat on the back to start your day. It's contagious, and you'll catch the bug with his second album, “Lightght,” which is due out on May 13.

Hospitality

Especially live, Hospitality has a relaxed complexity about its music. The Brooklyn trio makes listenable indie-pop that's layered with complex tempo changes, hyper-literate lyrics and technical instrumentation. But even with the painstakingly precise elements, the music is never uptight — rather a charming Sunday drive with Amber Papini's relatable vocals. The band's unfortunately overlooked sophomore album, “Trouble,” was released in January of this year through Merge Records.

Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen is a captivating musician. Her voice will croon like a country ballad, fill with grit for a lo-fi rock track and even adopt the classic-rock power of Janis Joplin. And it does so to deliver the range and emotion of her introspective lyrics. If her packed and much-talked-about sets at SXSW are any indication, she'll eventually be playing bigger venues in the near future. For now, catch her in an intimate setting while you can, and give her latest album, “Burn Your Fire for No Witness” (2014), a listen.

Wye Oak

Considered a folk duo after its first few releases, Wye Oak showcased a new electro-pop sound at its SXSW performances last week. The duo gave a taste of what's to come on the upcoming album, “Shriek,” which is out on April 29. And this new direction has sweeping synth landscapes building around Jenn Wasner's sultry vocals.